Electromagnetic device



FORD.

W. H D.

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 0:017, 1918.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

/nve/770/.f W/W/am ff 0. Ford UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAIM H. D. FORD; OF NEW YORK 1\T[Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMFANY, INCORPORATED, OE NEKV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed December 27, 1918. Serial No. 268,524.

locked in position mechanically until released by other means.

To meet certain conditions, it is sometimes required that a relay or other electromag netic device remain in an operated position for a considerable period of time, and to prevent the waste of energy which would result from permitting a flow of current through the winding of suiiicient value to cause this operation, it has been the customary practice to provide a high resistance locking winding. However, under some conditions even such a loss of energy is prohibitive as, for example, in connection with aeroplane service, where the size of the battery that can be carried is limited, and in other places where the contact pressures of the apparatus when operated are so great as to require an excessive flow of current in the winding to maintain the apparatus in an operated condition.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an electromagnetic device which upon being operated is mechanically locked in position and remains in this condition until released by other means. A further object of the invention is to pro vide an electromagnetic device, the arma ture of which is mechanically locked against movement both in its operated and nonoperated positions.

To attain these objects, and in accordance with a feature of this invention, there is provided an electro-magnetic device equipped with a locking arrangement which is released upon the operation of a second elec tromagnetic device, and in accordance with another feature of the invention, the looking arrangement is controlled by a second electromagnetic device to prevent operation as well as release.

These and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a view in perspective of an electromagnetic device embodying this invention, and Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a modified structure in which the looking arrangement controls both operation and release.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is disclosed a relay 5 of a familiar type provided with a core extension or pole piece 6 and a U-shaped armature 7, the free end of the latter being so formed as to have a flat portion 8 of a shape corresponding to that of the pole piece 6. The outer legs of armature 7 are equipped with studs 99 of hard rubber or similar insulating ma terial. These studs bear against the free ends of contact springs 10-10 which are adapted to move into contact with the contact springs 11-11 upon movement of armature 7 toward the pole piece 6. The threaded stud 12 is fastened to the pole piece 6 and extends through a suitable slot in the armature portion 8. The nut 13 threaded upon this stud is provided with a shoulder portion which is adapted to bear against the right-hand side of the armature when the latter is in its normal position, thus acting as a backstop and limiting the movement of the armature resulting from the tension of springs 10-10.

A similar type of relay 1 1 having a pole piece 15 and armature 16 is mounted adjacent to and in fixed position in relation to relay 5. This is accomplished by means of the plate 17 and the spacer rod 18 both of which are of brass or other similar non magnetic material and are rigidly fastened by screws or otherwise to the pole pieces of the respective relays, Pivotally mounted upon the plate 1'? by means of the trunnion screw 19 is the bar or lever 20, one end of which is beveled as shown at 21 while. the other end is provided with a latch portion The armature of relay 5 is provided with a pin adapted to engage the latch 22, while the armature of relay 1 1 is provided with a similar pin 24 adapted to bear against the beveled portion 21. Secured under tension between the pin 25 in plate 17 and a similar pin 26 in the bar 20 is the helical spring 29 which functions to normally hold the latch portion 22 against the pin 23. Upon the flow of sufficient current through the winding of relay 5 to overcome the biasing effect of springs 1010, the

armature portion 8 moves toward pole piece 6 and the contact springs 10'-10 engage the corresponding springs 1111. At the same time, pin 23 engages the latch 22, thereby holding the armature 8 in position irrespective of whether current is flowing through the winding of relay 5. In order to cause the release of armature 7, it is necessary to send a current impulse through the winding of relay 14, in which case armature 16 moves toward pole piece 15 and against the tension of spring 30, which normally holds the armature against the nut 31. As the armature moves toward the pole piece, pin 24 bears against the beveled portion 21 of bar 20,

raising the latch end 22 and permitting the armature 23 to move to the right and thereby open the circuit connections at the contact springs.

In the structure shown in Fig. 2, the locking device comprises a bell crank lever 35 mounted upon the trunnion screw 36 which is threaded into the plate 37 connected between the pole piece 38 of relay 39 and the pole piece 40 of relay 41. The latch portion 42 is provided with a flat portion in alinement with the pin 43 in armature 44, so that movement of the armature 44 toward the core 38 is prevented unless the latch portion 42 is raised. This is accomplished by the operation of relay 41, the armature 45 of which is provided with a pin 46 which engages a projecting portion 47 of the bell crank lever, causing the latter to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction until the armature 44 is free to move toward pole piece 38 upon the flow of sufiicient current through the winding of relay 39. Upon the termination of current flow through the winding of relay 41, the bell crank 35 is rotated in a clockwise direction as a result of the tension of spring 48, and the latch portion 42 engages pin 43 holding the armature 44 locked in an operated position independent of the current flow through the winding of relay 39. Upon a further current impulse being sent through the winding of relay 41, pin 46 engages projecting portion 47 thereby raising the latch portion 42 and releasing armature 44.

What is claimed is:

1. In a circuit controlling device, a pair of electromagnets each comprising an energizing winding, a core and an armature, a spacing member interconnecting the cores and a separate locking member pivotally mounted on said spacing member, spring means for causing the rotation of said locking member in a direction to maintain one of said armatures in an operated position, and means operable upon the operation of the other of said armatures to rotate the locking member in an opposite direction to cause the release of said first armature.

2. In a circuit controlling device, a pair of electromagnets each comprising an energizing winding, a core and an armature, a non-magnetic spacing member interconnecting the cores, and a locking member pivotally mounted on said spacing member, one end of said locking member being provided with a latch adapted to hold one of said armatures in an operated position and the other end of said locking member being provided with a portion adapted to be engaged by the other of said armatures when actuated to cause the release of the first mentioned armature.

In a circuit controlling device, an electromagnetic device provided with circuit controlling means, a second electromagnetic device controlling the operation of said first electromagnetic device, separate armatures for said devices, and a pivotally mounted locking member having its opposite ends in operative relation with said armatures one end of said locking member being provided with a latch portion adapted to engage the armature of said first electromagnetic device to maintain it in an operated position until released by the operation of the second electromagnetic device, when the opposite end of: the locking member is engaged b the armature of said second electromagnetlc device.

4. In a circuit controlling device, a pair of electromagnets each comprising an energizing winding, a core and an armature, a spacing member interconnecting the cores and a locking member comprising a bellcrank lever mounted on said spacing member, one arm of said lever being adapted to prevent operation of one of said armatures before the operation of the other of said armatures, and to then hold said first mentioned armature in a locked position until said second mentioned armature is again operated.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of December, A. D.

WILLIAM H. D. FORD. 

